Two Arrested in Home Invasion

Two men were arrested Saturday and charged with a variety of offenses, including attempted murder, relating to a violent home invasion Tuesday on Purchase Street.

Christopher Chicoine, 30, of 56 Forest St., Milford, and David Whaland, 29, who gave an address of 14 Sunny Knoll Terr., Lexington, were arrested in the early morning hours Saturday after police traced them to locations in three communities, police said. Both men are being held in Milford on $10,000 cash bail, pending arraignment.

Both men have been charged by Milford Police with home invasion, attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault to rob, and assault and battery, said , who announced the arrests Saturday afternoon.

In the invasion, four local residents were overcome by two masked, armed men who broke down the back door of their apartment home at 9 Purchase St. One of the assailants carried an axe, another what witnesses described as a machete.

and a 14-year-old girl were injured by one of the intruders, who struck both victims with the axe during the incident, police said. The man sustained a head wound and an injury to his hand, after he was hit with the blunt end of the axe. The 14-year-old girl had minor injuries to her foot, police said.

Throughout the ordeal, the two suspects repeatedly demanded cash and drugs, police said. The family told them, and the police, that they had no involvement with drugs.

According to Heron, local officers had pursued leads was reported late Tuesday. "This diligent effort resulted in the identification of two suspects who police had learned fled Milford shortly after the incident," he said, in a press release.

Milford police assembled a team of officers who early Saturday morning tracked the suspects to an address in Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood of Boston. With the assistance of Boston police, the Milford officers surrounded and entered the address at 12:20 a.m., Heron said. 

One of the suspects was apprehended at that time. Heron identified him as Chicoine. Chicoine was taken to Milford Police headquarters.

The Milford officers then traveled to Worcester and located an address where the second suspect was thought to have frequented, Heron said. With assistance of Worcester Police, "the area was surrounded and after a search of the premises it was determined the suspect was not there. Several other leads and addresses in Worcester were also checked," Heron said.

The officers then traveled to Lexington, a suburb of Boston, and located an address with the suspect vehicle parked out front. Lexington police provided Milford with the assistance of a squad of police officers. The address was surrounded and the premises entered.  At approximately 4:30 a.m., Whaland was arrested without incident, Heron said.

Whaland was booked at Lexington police headquarters and then transported to Milford police headquarters.

The motor vehicle allegedly used as the getaway car, a 1998 white Ford Ranger, has been impounded and will be processed for evidence, police said.

In the statement, Milford Police thanked the assisting departments, and commended the local police officers and detectives involved in the case. In addition to Heron, the officers who were involved in apprehending the suspects were detectives Carlos Sousa, Michael Mastroianni, Tony Carneiro and patrolman Robert Pavia. 

Milford police continue to investigate and gather evidence in this case. Anyone who wishes to provide further information regarding this case may contact the at 508-473-1113.